I don't have a lot of information on this yet, but one of our clients who lives near downtown Portland has told me there is a flea epidemic in the city. She discovered her poor dog was covered in them after he chewed his skin raw from being in so much discomfort because of the nasty little creatures. She says the dog is now getting a flea bath every three days and her house is officially the cleanest in the city because she's done so much to eradicate the fleas from indoors.

So, if your dog is coming to see us anytime within the next couple of months (including the holidays), I'm asking that you treat him or her with a topical flea product NOW, even if you don't see any fleas on the body. We try to really keep on top of a flea or tick outbreak at Scooter's by maintaining a very clean environment for the dogs. We also us a non-toxic pesticide, Diatomaceous Earth, as our main pest control. We are flea-free here and I don't want anyone bringing them along when they come to stay with us, please. That's why I'm asking for everyone's cooperation in treating their dog. You can get safe flea prevention products from your veterinarian's office. Please stay away from the Hartz or Sergeant's brand or anything else that isn't Frontline, Advantage or one of the other brands your vet sells. The chemical in the product actually dissolves into your pet's skin and enters the bloodstream, so you want to make sure you are using something safe and non-toxic. Let me know if you have any questions about this.

In addition to treating your dog with a flea prevention product, it's also a good idea to wash all pet beds (outer cover and interior of the bed) in hot water. If you find you have a flea problem in your home, replace the bed with a new one after having your home treated by a pest company. Fleas have many life stages. If you see adult fleas on your dog or in your home, that's an indication that you also have flea eggs and larvae living inside your house. Thoroughly vacuum your home daily for a couple of weeks. If your vacuum is the type that uses a bag, throw it away after each time you use the machine. If your vacuum is bagless, dump the contents and wash the canister with soap and hot water after each use. Fleas can live in your vacuum and crawl back out into your home when the machine is not in use.

As soon as I can find out more information about the Portland flea infestation, I'll post it here. Thanks for your help!